Carton partition assembly

ABSTRACT

A partition assembly is disclosed for use in packing an array of articles, such as glass bottles or jars, in a carton, or tray, with selected portions of mutually perpendicular partition elements being utilized to separate the articles within the array so as to prevent breakage during normal jostling in handling of the carton. Each partition element is so designed that it can be readily cut from a continuous strip of paperboard material with a minimum of waste, and nevertheless posses a sufficient contact area or segment between each pair of adjacent articles in the array.

United States Patent 1 Flanagan 1 Aug. 7, 1973 CARTON PARTITION ASSEMBLY[73] Assignee: Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield,

Conn. [22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 135,272

Primary Examiner--Samuel B, Rothberg Assistant Examiner--Stephen MarcusAttorney-McCormick, Paulding and Huber [57] ABSTRACT A partitionassembly is disclosed for use in packing an array of articles, such asglass bottles or jars, in a carton, or tray, with selected portions ofmutually perpendicular partition elements being utilized to separate thearticles within the array so as to prevent breakage during normaljostling in handling of the carton. Each partition element is sodesigned that it can be readily cut from a continuous strip ofpaperboard material with a minimum of waste, and nevertheless posses asufficient contact area or segment between each pair of adjacentarticles in the array.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 71975 SBEU 1 0f 2 INVENTOR.

THOMAS L FLANAGAN ATTORNEYS CARTON PARTITION ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Prior art partition assemblies for use in a carton in thepacking of glassware are usually of the selfsupporting variety, andtherefore require a large amount of paperboard material. These partitionassemblies are generally collapsible so as to be fabricatedindependently of the carton and shipped to the user as shown in U.S.Pat. No. 3,511,404 issued to Pearson May 12, 1970.

Conventional practice calls for the placing of these partitions in anempty carton or case prior to packing the glassware articles into theresulting cells, either by drop packing, or other means as in the caseof a typical end loaded case. With the advent of present day machineryfor wrapping a cardboard carton around an array or slug of articles,there is a need for a new approach to the partitioning art which willpermit the partition either to be formed simultaneously with formationof the slug of articles so as to be in place when the carton is wrappedaround the slug of articles, or less obvious perhaps the provision of amachine for inserting the partitioning elements as separate items fromindividual magazines between the rows and columns of articles within anarray as the array is being fedthrough the machine. The concept ofassembling the partition between the bottles or jars is shown in US.Pat. No. 2,968,898 issued to Hickim. However, in this patent, thepartition material still comprises a substantial portion of the overallweight of the resulting carton.

An object of the present invention therefore is to provide individualpartition elements which can be suitably retained in magazines in animproved machine for use in conjunction with a present day wrap aroundcarton forming machine to provide an array of frangible articles, suchas glass bottles or jars, in a tightly packed case or carton with aminimum of material being uti lized for the partition assembly itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The partition assembly described and claimedherein comprises a plurality of partitions each of which fall into twogeneral types so designed that both types can be readily insertedbetween the various rows and columnsof articles arranged in a particulararray to form mutually perpendicular cells for protecting glasswarearticles from damage as a result of jostling one against the other. Onetype of partition has a height equal to that of the container orarticles, and has a length somewhat less than the number of articles ina particular column multipliedby the diameter of each of one article.The other type of partition has a height less than the height of thearticles, and has a length somewhat less than the number of articles ineach row times the diameter of a particular article. The two types ofpartitions nest one on top of the other as a result of V-shaped notchesprovided in each, and when assembled with a slug or array of articlesthese partition elements define rectangular openings for these articleswith all of the articles being separated from one another by segments ofsaid partitions having a width of approximately 75 the diameter of onearticle and a heightof approximately :5 the height of said article,butno less than It; of said height.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view showing apartition assembly comprising two partition elements mounted in nestingrelationship with one another as would be the case when these partitionelements have been inserted between the respective column and rows of aslug or array of articles, said array being indicated schematically bythree of the twelve such articles constituting an array suitable for usewith the partition assembly shown.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the partition assembly shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the partition assembly shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a strip from which one type of partitionelement is adapted to be cut, illustrating also the quanity of wastematerial caused by practicing the invention and FIG. 5 is a plan view ofthe strip from which the other partition elements are cut, alsoillustrating the quanity of waste material resulting from practicing thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG.1 shows a partition assembly constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and illustrates in broken lines three of the twelve articlesA, A adapted to be separated from one another in a carton or tray E ofthe type adapted to pack twelve such articles for shipment.

Each of the articles in the array of 12 has a like height C as well as abody portion extending through a substantial portion of its height andhaving a diameter D. As shown the articles are arranged in three columnsof four articles each, or in four rows of three articles each, and inthe description to follow the number of articles in each column will bereferred to as P whereas the number of articles in each row will. bereferred to as N in order to provide terminology consistent with theclaims comprising the last portion of this application. For purposes ofillustration only 12 articles are shown in an array or slug but theinvention can be applied to an array comprising any number of sucharticles. As best shown in FIG. 2 the carton or tray with which thepartition assembly is adapted to be used preferably includesan interiorspace having a length dictated by the number of articles in a typicalcolumn P and by the diameter D of each. Four articles are illustrated inFIG. 2. Thus, the carton would have a length (4 X D) or (P X D). So toofrom FIG. 3 itican be seen that such acarton would have a width equal to3 times D in packaging the twelve article array shown in FIG. .1. Moregenerally, the carton width can be seen to be (N X D).

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate .resective shapes of the two types of partitionelements or units comprisingthe partition assembly shown in FIG. 1, andeach of these will now be described in detail.

The .partition element chown .in .FIG. .2 will be referred to herein asthe (N-l) partition since 3 minus I, or two such partitions are used inseparating the three columns of articles in the twelve artice array withwhich we are concerned in this disclosure. .ThetN-l) partition can beseen from FIG. .2 to have a length which is less than-D X P but which issomewhat greater than (P-l) X D.More particularly, the N-l partitionshown inFIGFZ has opposite end portions of vertically elongatedconfiguration to provide generally rectangular areas, and 12respectively, which are adapted to separate the endmost articles in twoof the end columns shown in FIG. 1. It is an important feature of thepresent invention that the vertical dimension of this rectangularcontact area, or segment is approximately C, and that said segment has awidth X of approximately 15 D. As a result of this geometry, it will beapparent that the (N-l) partition has a length of at least D X (P%).This geometry results in rectangular areas, 10 and 12, of sufficientsixe to adequately separate the adjacent articles without susceptibilityto breakage. More generally, this length can be expressed thus D(P-l) X.In this expression for the length of said (Nl) partition X represents afraction of D, and preferably in the range between 1/5 and A; D. The if;D has, however, been found to be the most satisfactory value.

Each (N-l) partition further includes a lower edge which defines anumber of V-shaped tongues, 14 and 16, which comprise two in number inthe embodiment shown. Two such tongues are required for the four articlecolumns in the 12 article array since two of such articles are alreadyseparated by the end portions 10 and 12, described above. Therefor, inthe description to follow, these V-shaped tongues 14 and 16 defined inthe lower edge of the (Nl partition will be referred to as the (P-2)tongues. Still with reference to the (P4) tongues, the vertical centerlines of these tongues can be seen to be coincident with the lines ofcontact of the adjacent bottles in the adjacent columns of the array,and as a result the center lines 18 and 20, are necessarily spaced fromone another, and from the center lines of the end portions 10 and 12, bythe diameter D of each individual article.

Still with reference to the (N-l) partitions, each of these can be seenfrom FIG. 2 to have an upper edge which defines at least one upstandingtrapezoidally shaped projection 22, which projection has an upper edge24 spaced a distance C above the lower edge 26 of the end portions, 10and 12 of the (N -l) partition.

As so constructed and arranged the (N-l) partition has an upper edgecharacterized by a substantial portion which is located at a significantdistance below the uppermost edge 24 of said partition, and moreparticularly at approximately the height C of the articles to bepartitioned. This feature of the (N-l) partition results in a saving inpaperboard material over the prior art partitions described above. Thisadvantage is best shown in FIG. 4 where the strip 30 is shown from whichthe (Nl partitions are adapted to be cut. FIG. 4 illustrates the numberof partitions which can be obtained from a length of strip correspondingto the height dimension C of the articles.

The lower edge of each (Nl partition defines (P-l) downwardly opennotches between the end portions 10 and 12 and associated spaced tongues14 and 16 for a purpose to be discussed hereinbelow. However, prior toleaving the discussion of the (N-l partition it should be noted that thecenter notch 28 corresponds in size and shape to the trapezoidalprojection 22, and as a result of this geometry permits approximatelyfour of the (N-l) partitions to be cut from a strip 30 of length equalto three heights (3C).

Turning now to a more detailed description of the partition shown inFIG. 3, this element of the partition assembly will be referred toherein as the (P-l) partition since this is the number of suchpartitions required in the assembly of the partition assembly of FIG. 1and of any assembly constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. This (P-l) partition has a length less than (D X N) but atleast equal to D X (N-2/3). It should perhaps be noted that theleft-hand end portion 32 and 32a of this (P-l) partition is somewhatlonger than the right-hand end portion 34, and although this feature isnot necessarily required in practicing this invention it is shown in thedrawings primarily to illustrate that one type of the two partitionelements described herein is preferably so made in order to have one ofits end portions in the vertical plane defined by the rear edges of thearticles to be partitioned. This feature will permit a flight bar orother conveyor mean 37 to engage the array or slug of articles and tomove it together with the associated (P-l)'partition elements in amachine for advancing the unit in the direction of the arrow 38 toward awrap around packer or other machine with which the present array ofarticles in conjunction with its associated partition assembly isadapted to be utilized. Thus the portion 32a of the end of the (P-l)partition shown in FIG. 3 may or may not be required depending upon theuse to which the partition assembly is to be put.

Each of said (P-l) partitions can thus be seen to have opposite endportions, 32 and 34, of vertically elongated configurations to separatethe endmost articles in any of the adjacent two rows of the three shownin FIG. 1. These end portions 32 and 34 have a width X of approximatelyone-third D. The (P-l) partition further includes an upper edge whichdefines (N-l V-shaped notches for receiving the downwardly open notchesdefined between the (P-l) V-shaped tongues of said (N-l) partitions. Itwill be apparent that the overall height B of the (P-l) partition issuch that the depth of the (N-l) V-shaped notch, when substracted fromB, corresponds to the depth of the V-shaped (N-l) notches as illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3 by the reference numeral 40. This geometricallimitation assures that the (N-l) and (P-l) partitions nest one withinthe other to provide a partition assembly which though notself-supporting, does nevertheless have bottom portions of eachpartition element located in a common plane corresponding to the uppersurface of the carton E. Upper portions of at least one type ofpartition element engaging the underside of the top panel of such acarton (not shown) since the overall height of the (N-l) partitions inthe embodiment disclosed does equal the container height C.

In order to further save on the paperboard material from which the (P4)partition elements are cut, the lower edge of each of said (P-l)partitions defines (N-l) depending tongues, 42 and 44, which tongues aregenerally trapezoidal in shape with a bottom width of A; D and withinclined sides defining an acute angle, equal to the angle defined bysaid (N-l) V-shaped notches in said (P-l) partition upper edge. Thisgeometrical limitation assures that the (P-l) partitions can be cut froma continuous strip 46 best shown in FIG. 5, resulting in a minimum ofwaste material from a strip of predetermined length. In FIG. 5, as inFIG. 4, the dimension C equals the height of the articles to beseparated and is shown for purposes of illustrating the geometricalsaving of paperboard material realized as a result of practicing thepresent invention. For example four (4) (P-l) partition elements can becut from a strip of length 2C.

As a result of the partition assembly construction described above, itcan be seen that the (P-1) and (N-l) partitions, in their assembledcondition, provide rectangular openings for maintaining the variousarticles in the array in separated relationship to one another. All ofsaid articles (P X N) in said array are separated from one another by apaperboard segment with a width of at least /3 D and with a heightpreferably equal to C, but no less than /4 C. In the style of articlesillustrated in the drawings the vertical dimension of the paperboardsegment is preferably kept on the order of C for both the (N-l) and(P-l) partitions, but it will be apparent that some reduction in thisdimension may be feasible at least in the (P-l) partitions in the eventthat the articles have a shape such as the well known ketchup bottlewherein the body portion has a diameter which does not extend the majorportion of the article height.

I claim:

1. A partition assembly for use in separating an array of articles fromone another, each of said articles having a height C and a body portionwhich extends along a substantial portion of the height, which bodyportion has a diameter D, said array having N columns and P rows with Narticles per row and P articles per column to provide P X N articles insaid array, said partition assembly more particularly comprising (Nl)partitions of length less than D X P but at least D(P-l) X, were Xequals a fraction of D in the range between 1/5 and 741, each of said(N-l) partitions having opposite end portions of vertically elongatedconfigurations to separate the endmost articles in two of said Ncolumns, said end portions having a vertical dimension of approximately%C and a width of approximately D, said (Nl partitions further includinga lower edge which defines (P-2) depending V-shaped tongues the verticalcenter lines of which tongues are spaced from one another and from saidend portion center lines by the dimension D, each of said (P-l)partitions having a length less than (D X N) but at least D(N-l X, eachof said P-l partitions having opposite end portions of verticallyelongated configurations to separate the endmost articles in two of saidP rows, said end portions having a width of approximately %D, said (P-l)partitions further including an upper edge which defines (N-l V-shapednotches for receiving the downwardly open notches defined between said(P-l) V-shaped tongues of said (N-l) partitions.

2. A partition assembly as set forth in claim I wherein said (P-l)partitions further include a lower edge which defines (N-l dependingtongues of trapezoidal shape with a bottom width of (%D) and withinclined sides defining an accute angle equal to the angle defined bysaid (N-l) V-shaped notches in said (P-l) partition upper edge wherebysaid (P-l) partitions can be cut from a continuous strip .of paperboardmaterial with a minimum of waste.

3. A partition assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said (P-l)partitions nest with said] (N-l) partitions to provide rectangularopenings for said articles, all of said articles in said array beingseparated from one another by a paperboard segment with a width of ADand of height of approximately %C but no less than %C.

4. A partition assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said (P-2)V-shaped tongues of said (N-l) partitions have lower ends which are inline with the lower ends of said (N-l) partition end portions, said(P-l) partitions having said bottoms of said trapezoidally shapedtongues in a plane defined by said lower end of said (Nl) partition endportions, and a carton for said array and said partition assembly,saidcarton having a bottom panel with its upper surface in said planeand said bottom panel having a width of (N X D) and a length of (P X D).

5. A partition assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said (P-2)V-shaped tongues defined in the lower edge of said (N-l) partitions have(P-ll) downwardly open notches defined therebetween and between saidtongues and said (N-l) partition end portions, said (P-l notches allhaving inclined edges to facilitate assembly of said (N-l) and (P-l)partitions.

6. A partition assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said (Nlpartitions have an upper edge characterized by at least onetrapezoidally shaped projection, and wherein at least one of said (P-l)downwardly open notches in the lower edge of each of said (N-l)partitions is of corresponding shape to said trapezoidal projection topermit said (N-l) partitions to be cut from a continuous strip ofpaperboard material'with a minimum of waste, said projection providingsaid (N-l) partitions with an overall height C. a:

1. A partition assembly for use in separating an array of articles fromone another, each of said articles having a height C and a body portionwhich extends along a substantial portion of the height, which bodyportion has a diameter D, said array having N columns and P rows with Narticles per row and P articles per column to provide P X N articles insaid array, said partition assembly more particularly comprising (N-1)partitions of length less than D X P but at least D(P-1) + X, were Xequals a fraction of D in the range between 1/5 and 1/3 , each of said(N-1) partitions having opposite end portions of vertically elongatedconfigurations to separate the endmost articles in two of said Ncolumns, said end portions having a vertical dimension of approximately2/3 C and a width of approximately 1/3 D, said (N-1) partitions furtherincluding a lower edge which defines (P-2) depending V-shaped tonguesthe vertical center lines of which tongues are spaced from one anotherand from said end portion center lines by the dimension D, each of said(P-1) partitions having a length less than (D X N) but at least D(N-1) +X, each of said P-1 partitions having opposite end portions ofvertically elongated configurations to separate the endmost articles intwo of said P rows, said end portions having a width of approximately1/3 D, said (P-1) partitions further including an upper edge whichdefines (N-1) Vshaped notches for receiving the downwardly open notchesdefined between said (P-1) V-shaped tongues of said (N-1) partitions. 2.A partition assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said (P-1)partitions further include a lower edge which defines (N-1) dependingtongues of trapezoidal shape with a bottom width of ( 1/3 D) and withinclined sides defining an accute angle equal to the angle defined bysaid (N-1) V-shaped notches in said (P-1) partition upper edge wherebysaid (P-1) partitions can be cut from a continuous strip of paperboardmaterial with a minimum of waste.
 3. A partition assembly as set forthin claim 2 wherein said (P-1) partitions nest with said (N-1) partitionsto provide rectangular openings for said articles, all of said articlesin said array being separated from one another by a paperboard segmentwith a width of 1/3 D and of height of approximately 2/3 C but no lessthan 1/3 C.
 4. A partition assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said(P-2) V-shaped tongues of said (N-1) partitions have lower ends whichare in line with the lower ends of said (N-1) partition end portions,said (P-1) partitions having said bottoms of said trapezoidally shapedtongues in a plane defined by said lower end of said (N-1) partition endportions, and a carton for said array and said partition assembly, saidcarton having a bottom panel with its upper surface in said plane andsaid bottom panel having a width of (N X D) and a length of (P X D). 5.A partition assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said (P-2) V-shapedtongues defined in the lower edge of said (N-1) partitions have (P-1)downwardly open notches defined therebetween and between said tonguesand said (N-1) partition end portions, said (P-1) notches all havinginclined edges to facilitate assembly of said (N-1) and (P-1)partitions.
 6. A partition assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said(N-1) partitions have an upper edge characterized by at least onetrapezoidally shaped projection, and wherein at least one of said (P-1)downwardly open notches in the lower edge of each of said (N-1)partitions is of corresponding shape to said trapezoidal projection topermit said (N-1) partitions to be cut from a continuous strip ofpaperboard material with a minimum of waste, said projection providingsaid (N-1) partitions with an overall height C.